My dad had “R3” for a few years. He’d always had a thing for the number 3 , and R is his initial. The plate has some interesting history too: first used for the 3rd car ever to be registered in Derbyshire.
It cost more than the car he put it on, which I thought was completely nuts. Then he pointed out that the car lost 25% of its value as soon as it left the forecourt, but the plate: it doesn’t depreciate, it doesn’t have running costs, you don’t have to insure it because no-one can steal it (they can steal £12 of plastic, but not the registration). Hmmm…
He sold it after a while because he thought it was a bit much and he’d had his fun. Got more than he paid for. He’s replacing the car sometime soon because it’s edging past economical repair after 15 years.
Unlike the right to display a piece of plastic with certain characters on it, which is still going strong, 100+ years later.
Sometimes, the stupid things aren’t that stupid…